SUMMER!

Over a month since my last post?? This summer I will try to keep you up to date! I don't want to let down our 3 readers now do I?
This weekend is Memorial Day weekend and summer is in the air! I'm so excited for the summer, as always! For the past few years every summer has been soo different from the previous summer. 3 years ago it was our first summer in our new home, and I found out I was pregnant that June...two years ago it was our first summer with Sahil and Samira...one year ago it was our first summer with curious, walking, sort of talking lil toddlers...and this summer we have two 2-year olds who are talking, singing, running, wearing underwear, and sooo excited about the world around them. Should be a fun summer!

Boast Post

On the Twinstuff message board that I read, there was a thread called “boast” where people wrote things about their kids that they were proud about. I decided to make my list here… :)

-I’m proud of Samira for being potty trained within a month at 25 months
-I’m proud of Sahil for being almost potty trained
-I’m proud that my monkeys know their ABCs, 123s, colors, and shapes
-I’m proud that Samira put her pants on yesterday all by herself
-I’m proud that my kids love so many types of music including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, 80s music, current music, devotional songs, and of course silly kids’ songs.
-I’m proud of the different foods my kids eat, although McDonald’s chicken nuggets are still their favorite.
-I’m proud of how well Sahil and Samira are doing in swimming class.
-I'm proud that Sahil and Samira try their best to not be shy when I tell them "don't be shy." :)
-I'm proid that my monkeys love books and love being read to every night before bed
-I'm proud that I'm these two amazing kids' Mommy!

Practice Easter Egg Hunt

On Easter Sunday our neighborhood is having an Egg Hunt for the kids. Yesterday I went and bought plastic eggs and candy for the hunt, and decided to get some extras for the monkeys to play with this week. We decided to have a practice egg hunt yesterday, so I hid a dozen of the eggs around the living room and had S&S hunt for them. Sahil was very good at finding the eggs and very quick. Samira took her good old time strolling around the room. She'd then see Sahil find an egg and start whining about how she wanted it. A couple of times Sahil did give her the egg, probably to stop the whining. When Samira did find an egg, she'd start complaining, "no want that color." Chetan and I are going to flip a coin to decide who gets to be her "buddy" at the egg hunt...

I also keep emphasizing how they can't be shy at the egg hunt or they won't get any candy-filled eggs. Despite going to daycare, they practically run from any kid that comes remotely near them. It drives me crazy! I can see then hiding behind my legs at the hunt...hopefully they're motivated by the candy!

Time Out

We've been trying the 1-2-3 Magic method at home lately. The monkeys get 1 to 3 warnings, depending on the "crime," and then a time out. I'm not sure how much they understand this, but they do know time outs are bad and cry when they get a time out. Yesterday the monkeys were having a tea party with Blue, from Blue's Clue, and Winnie the Poo. Apparently Blue was spitting and didn't stop after ebing told "That's 1" by Sahil. So Blue had to go to time out on the steps. Sahil very sharply told him, "You go in a time out! No spitting!" Then Samira decided Winnie also was spitting so he got a time out too. The tone they were using with their stuffed animals made me realize how careful we have to be in the way we talk to them. They weren't screaming or anything but it did sound a bit harsh. I.e. note to self - take out the emotion from my voice when giving a time out, per 123 Magic.

All in all, it cracked me up hearing them punish their stuffed animals!! It was sooo funny!

Dare I say....

Usually the days I say something like this, there's a bag of wet undies waiting for me at the daycare... But I'm saying it anyway! Sahil's doing really well with potty training! He's had very few accidents lately, yay! I'm proud my lil boy! Of course...if I didn't make him go every so often I don't think we'd be so accident-free, but it's still a big step in the right direction!

Not to toot my horn too loud, especially when we're not done with the process, but just between you and me blog, I'm pretty proud of Chetan and I for doing well with potty training two 2-year olds!

I am REALLY asking for it today aren't I...pretty sure I'll be doing laundry today :)

Swimming Class

Today we started swimming classes again. I started talking to the monkeys about swimming and swimming pool and the water the night before, and the next morning. Sahil was VERY excited about going to teh swimming pool. He kept talking about it and happily put on his swimsuit was ready to go! Samira was a bit more calm about it but also happily put on her swimsuit. When we got to the Community Center I took Sahil out of teh car and he told me, "Mommy I'm excited!" It was cute! The second we stepped into the pool area he took one look at the pools and water and said, "no swimming Mommy." I wonder what he had been expecting all that time. Luckily he did agree to get into the pool once Samira went in. Samira did very well in the water! The only thing she wasn't a big fan of was floating on her back. Sahil, on the other hand, was only a fan of the silly songs we sing in the water.
Let's hope Sahil is a bit more adventerous at the next class...cuz shaving my legs and getting in the cold pool is not worth just singing "somebody came to swim today." We acn do taht at home! :)

And the rest of the story....

No mention of Sahil in my potty training post? I figured Samira deserved her own post.
And Sahil...not exactly there yet. Sahil's also wearing solely underwear for the most part. But while Samira had about two accidents in one month, Sahil has about one a day. Yep, not there yet. But there's no going back now! I'm hoping to write a 'Yay Sahil' post soon!

Potty Training!

It's been about a month since Samira started wearing underwear, and I think I can safely say she is potty trained! I hope I'm not jinxing myself...
She was actually pretty easy to train, due to her LOVE of underwear! She loves picking one out each morning, chossing between Dora, Zoey, Elmo, Spongebob, and some bird whose name we don't know. Sometimes she just can't decide which one to wear, so she insists on wearing two, one on top of another. Some days she decides she needs to wear one over her PJs. She's an odd one, but I'll happily comply if it keeps her dry and out of diapers!
WAY TO GO SAMIRA! I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!

We need a REAL vacation!

I was just downstairs at teh daycare, having snack with S&S, and noticed there are only 5 kids in the monkeys’ class today. Some are on vacation, some went part time, one is sick, etc. So I was telling the teachers how sad it is that S&S are always there and told Sahil "I think we need to take a vacation too" and he said "yeah, go Costco." How sad is that?! He thinks Costco is a vacation spot... I think that's a sign that we need to take a real vacation!
And go to Costco tomorrow....

Dear Wonderful Husband:

Dear C-dawg
I'm so happy for you today! Great great news! You deserve it and have earned it, and should feel so proud! Thanks for doing so much for the three of us. I don't know how I got so lucky to have you in my life. I am so blessed. I love you!

Having you as my only reader does have its small benefits... :)

Noble Pils

I asked Chetan to pick up a winter beer the other day, and he came home with Sam Adams Noble Pils....I was not happy. It didn't look like a winter beer at all, it looked all springy, which it is definitely not outside. So I tried to smile, and look grateful, but really was just sad that there'd be no SA Winter Lager for me that night. Then I read the label, and it said it's the perfect beer for when spring is just a few weeks away....and suddenly teh beer was a perfect choice!! I thanked Chetan for buying a perfect beer and happily poured myself a bottle of it, in my pilsner glass of course. Marketing poeple love people like me, huh?
How was it? It was good! It's a great pilsner. I do like pilsners, but I think it's just too snowy, cold and miserable outside for me to fully enjoy a pilsner right now. I think I'll enjoy this beer much more once some fresh spring air is blowing through my house. Good thing since I just read that the Noble Pils is replacing Sam Adams' White Ale, its usual Spring bew.

" Happy to you!"

January 14th was Sahil and Samira's 2nd birthday! I CANNOT believe it's been two years since my lil monkeys were born! And yet I'm amazed at how much I love them and how much joy they have brought us in just two years. Crazy to think we have condiments in the fridge that are older than them...yet they are our life now! The monkeys, not the condiments.

This year they did somewhat understand it was their birthday, and they were very excited about it. For days Samira sang "Happy To you" to Sahil, us and to herself. It was so sweet to watch and hear. The day before their birthday Mom and Dad wanted to take them to McDonalds since they were busy on their actual birthday. So we all went to McDonalds where S&S had Happy Meals and fun. They loved eating there. Afterwards we went to Mom and Dad's for cake and presents, and pizza for us. It was a fun evening for everyone!

On Thursday, S&S's actual birthday, they both woke up to us singing Happy Birthday to them, and they were so excited! When we got to the room at school they ran up to the teacher waiting for her to say happy birthday. Samira sang Happy To you to Sahil all day. For snack I took in cookies on popsicle sticks. The teachers had made them birthday crowns which they insisted on wearing all day. Chetan came home with balloons for them, we opened presents, and then went out to dinner at Red Robin. Samira was terrified of the giant Red Robin that walked around the restaurant, while Sahil loved him. Samira decided she loved him too, once he went in the back, and talked about him nonstop. It was a wonderful day, full off reminiscing of the past two years, and full of new memories as well.

My babies are 2 now...no more infant sized clothes, no more free flights, time to get serious about potty training, and time for the terrible/terrific twos!

Christmas Ale winner:

Great Lakes Christmas Ale!

Honorable mention to Breckenridge Christmas Ale and Thirsty Dog's 12 Dogs of Christmas

My least favorite was Bell's.

Luckily there are still plenty of Winter Ales to indulge in, till March...

Sahil & Samira's Christmas Highlights

-Dancing to ‘Hot Chocolate” from Polar Express, and watching it over and over again
-“YIGHTS” every time we passed a twinkly lit home
-“MORE YIGHTS” when we pass the lighted house
-Sahil told me “eating cracker and glue” at snack time. I was a little concerned till I realized it was graham crackers with frosting.
-Making gingerbread houses
-Making gingerbread boys and girls
-Snuggling on the sofa with Mommy, watching Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph and Polar Express.
-“Kindee-cane”
-“Presents!”
-Opening presents with so much excitement
-Insisting on playing whatever they opened right away, and for a long while.
-Scared of “Shanta” at first but loved seeing him from a distance at the mall
-“Snowy Day!” i.e. the book. When they woke up to snow.
-Paring down my bulb ornaments by at least half.
-Listening to Christmas Carols at home and in the car and trying to sing along
-Singing at STRS’s holiday lunch
-Seeing the holiday train display at the library
-Driving through Fantasy of Lights at Alum Creek.
-Playing with all the friends and family that stopped by or that we visited during the holidays
-Lots of hugs, kisses, and fun during our time off at home!

Christmas Village

Ever since I saw my neighbor's Christmas village when I was a little kid, I always told myself I'd have a Christmas village of my own one day. I LOVE them!
A couple weeks ago I used all my Kohls cash and coupons and bought 3 Christmas village buildings that were so so cute. I bought a row of shops which included a hardware store and a shoe store, an Irish pub and a Pharmacy thinking I'd start a Christmas village display and add on every year. I also picked up snow cover, a plug, and a village tree at Walmart. I brought it all home and set it up on the foyer table. I thought it looked so cute and wonderful! Chetan walked by it and said "looks nice, Grandma." How rude... Then the monkeys saw it and stood there and stared at it forever, like in a trance. They wouldn't move away or even look away...and I couldn't leave them because I was scared they'd touch something and break it. So...I returned it all. But I do love Christmas villages....maybe I'll try again one day, maybe when I AM a grandma!

Winter Beer list

This year I started drinking winter beers a little early. A friend brought over Bell's and Breckenridge Christmas Ale, and I couldn't resist. I usually wait till after Thanksgiving (you must respect the bird!) but...oh well!
We also picked up 2 six packs of Great Lakes' Christmas Ale from World Market, and a few single bottles of Christmas and winter Ales from Whole Foods.

So far here is my list of tried:

Great Lakes Christmas Ale
Bell's Christmas Ale
Samuel Adams' Winter Lager
Breckenridge Christmas Ale
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
Blue Moon Full Moon
Rogue - ?
Thirsty Dogs Christmas Ale

Christmas Ales make me sooo happy! Christmas happy!

And the Fall beer winner is....

After spending over two months trying different 'Autumn" beers, I have a winner. The winner is Shipyard Brewing Co.'s Pumpkinhead Ale. A close second is Great Lakes Oktoberfest.

I've been trying to hold back on the winter beers till the day after Thanksgiving...but we did buy some Great Lakes Christmas Ale yesterday, and I might have tried the Breckenridge Christmas Ale last weekend...and had a Sam Adams' Winter lager at happy hour....but no one more till after T-day! You must respect the bird! Same reason I can't let myself listen to the Christmas music already playing on the radio. RESPECT THE BIRD!

"I pee in potty"

The monkeys are dping well in the toddler room now! The first week after transition they both got sick with a bad cold and fever, so thinsg were a little rough when they started back. But it's all good now!

Just a couple of weeks of being around potty trained and training friends, Sahil is all about using the potty! And now, a couple weeks after Samira's showing interest too! I wasn't ready for this, but I am so proud of my lil monkeys! We have a long way to go till they are potty trained, but we're moving in the right direction so far!

...and here I thought I would NEVER be the kind of mom that would announce such gross things as pooping and peeing in the potty....so much for that!

Toddler Transition Day 2 and 3

My monkeys had great mornings in the toddler room on Tuesday and Wednesday! Yet they were just as happy to go back to the infant room afterwards. That made me so happy for some reason.... The last little boy who transitioned to the toddler room would stand by the room and cry when he came back to the Infant room. That must have made the infant teachesr feel real good...
Here's an email from one of their Toddler teachers:

From: Toddler2
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 2:27 PM
Subject: Sahil and Samira

I just wanted to send a quick e-mail to let you know what a wonderful transition the twins are having! They seem very at ease in their new environment and seem to enjoy exploring all the new ideas in the toddler room! They fit right in and are making new friends. I hope this helps ease your mind on how they are doing through-out their transition. Joselyn and I are enjoying getting to know them. They are so sweet! Have a good rest of the day!
Michelle

Toddler Transition Day 1

Today Chetan and I drove together so I showed him around the monkeys' new Toddler room. I think he was having a hard time imagining our lil peanuts in that room, sleeping on cots, using the sink, eating at the table on their own...I know I did when I had my orientation for the room.

Today Sahil and Samira were supposed to go to the Toddler room from 8:30 to 9:30am. I went down there at 10:30, and they were still in the Toddler Room. Josslyn, one of the their teachers, said they were doing really well so they kept them longer. She said they sang songs, talked about the weather, read a book, had morning snack, painted pumpkins, and were now playing with play dough. I think that's more than we did all weekend! :) Sahil saw me, said hi, and then went back to his play dough, and same with Samira. I loved that, since in the Infant room they come running to me, hang onto me, whine and carry on if I don't hold them both...and then cry when I leave.

I think I'm more sad for myself about S&S leaving the Infant room. Two of their teachers are seasoned moms and have been there for ME every single day. They've given me advice, listened to my vents and stories, comforted me when I had meltdowns, and cuddled and loved my kiddos while I was at work. I am so grateful to have had such wonderful people taking care of my monkeys. I know the toddler teachers are just as wonderful, but I will still miss the infant room teachers so much. Yes, they are just a room away, but it's not the same....